The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-05
THE MYSTERIOUS PHOTOGRAPH.
A Curiosity on the Window Pane of
the Window of an Old Farm House

A Curiosity on the Window Pane of
the Window OF an Old Farm House.
INTELLECTUALLY, Sept 2.-On a recent
business trip by private conveyance your
correspondent had occasion to pass through
that triangular space of country formed by
the three railroads connecting, respectively,
Chattanooga and Cleveland, Tenn, and
Dalton, Ca, and to stop at the little Tenues-
see village of Ooltewah, on the railroad
from Chattanooga to Cleveland
just before reaching Oottewah about
two miles out, | observed crowd of peo-
pie gathered at an humble farm house by
the roadside, and asking the meaning of the
crowd, was told that "Old Mrs. Osborne
was dead. Being stranger and feeling no
particular interest in the deceased. made
no further inquiry but drove on to Ootte-
wah- Refining up my horses at the village
tavern, | approached party of men on the
porch to inquire for some parties with
whom had business. | saw that they were
excited and deeply interested in converse
ton about the mysterious photograph.
Naturally asked an explanation and this
is the story that was told me.
sold Mrs. Osborne, the mother of farmer
Osborne, living about two miles east of the
town, had been a bedridden invalid for
many years" Last Tuesday" the narra-
tor continued, 'she was lying in bed in the
same little room she had occupied for years,
her bed being near a window glazed with
8 by 10 glass, when a terrific thunder storm
came up, and through the window, as she
lay helpless in bed, she saw the lightning
strike and shiver to atoms tall pine tree
standing near by, and it is supposed she felt
the shock, for she was so frightened and
Frustrated that she rapidly sank into an un-
conscious condition, and so fingered on till
next day, when she died When the neigh
- L. L. \
remains for burial they discovered to the
great establishment of all and the
superstitions of many, that on one
window, against which her bed
stood, was a perfect Photographic
likeness of her, as she had appeared,
in her neat cap and gown, lying in
bed for so many years. Her careworn, suf
| fering face, had been seen so often il was per-
fectly familiar to all the neighbors for
miles around, and, as each newcomer
glanced at the glass, he drew back with
amazement and exclaimed:
YES; it is her likeness
Appearing rather incredulous, tall, in
telligent TennesSeean suggested that drive
back and see for myself. Asking him to ac-
| company me, we drove back | expected
TO see some hitherto unobserved flaw in the
glass, which the superstitious, aided by
| vivid imagination, might comfort into some
sort of fancied resemblance, Just as we may
discover shapes in the dying Goals, or trace
resemblances in the fleeing clouds; but
what was my surprise instead, to see, not
an imperfect pane of glass, but perfect
one, on which was plainly visible a faint,
though perfect picture, of an old woman in
cap and gown, lying in bed.
As 10 its resemblance TO Mrs. Osborne |
could not vouch, never i:aving seen her, for
she was buried, her death having occurred
three days previously, but my companion
who had known her well, assured me the
likeness was perfect. A number of people
were lingering about, wondering at the
strange picture on the glass, and attributed
II TO some supernatural origin. | account
for IL on hypothesis which, though ] can
not satisfactorily explain, seems 10 me the
only reasonable one.
That section of country is rich in mineral
ores-iron, lead, silver, gold, manganese.
nitro. etc. That pane Of glass from long
exposure, has lost its bright. GLOSSY surface.
ana become dingy with somewhat ride
scent film on IL, caused possibly by inn
percepnble yapors from these Astounding
ores, deposited thereon in the long years Of
her Illness. Perhaps fumes or vap-
ors OF nitrate Of silver which
we know is what photographers use
generated by the nitrc and silver in the
earth may have been in sOme manner de
posted IN the gla~, thus making II what
photographers call a sensitive plate
| while the glms was in this condition aOme
sudden change IN the atmosphere may have
occurred, and Mrs Osborn being In posed
position the likeness wa imprinted upon IL.
" that ~ n may. the picture was there.
sud though not diainct On highly enough
hnlaiied " have been delivered ~ GU.